Monday 19 November 2012

International Men's Day (IMD)

Today, November 19, marks the fourteenth International Men's Day.

There are many facets to this day, one of the most important being that often overlooked, often largely ignored, issue of male health (for men of all ages). But of course it is about more than prostate and testicular cancer, impotence and other 'favourite' topics! There are also the issues of parenting and the provision of role models (something that is pretty tough to find in the area of infant and junior education in this country it seems) and gender equality (which works both ways - or at least should work both ways).

This year's theme: Helping Men and Boys live longer, happier, healthier lives

The IMD site lists five action points:

IMPROVING MEN'S LIFE EXPECTANCY
From the moment a boy is born he can expect to live a shorter life than his female counterparts in all but four countries on the planet. There is also a huge gap in life expectancy between rich and poor countries with men in Mozambique reaching an average age of 38 while in Iceland, Israel and Switzerland men live twice as long until the age of 80.

There are also huge gaps in life expectancy within countries, with men born in the poorest parts of the United Kingdom, for example, dying 10 years sooner than their fellow countrymen in the wealthiest parts of the capital city.

Boys are not genetically programmed to die young so our first challenge this International Men's Day is to ask countries taking part to consider how we can help all men and boys live longer, happier, healthier lives – no matter how poor they are and no matter what country they are born in.


HELPING MEN GET HELP
Every year poor mental health drives over three quarters of a million people to commit suicide – and around two thirds of them are males.

Men and boys all over the world can find it more difficult to access help for mental and emotional health problems and most prison populations include a significant number of men with mental health issues.

This International Men's Day we are asking participating countries to consider how we can help more men and boys get the help and support they need and to take action on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of men who will take their own lives this year.


IMPROVING BOYS' EDUCATION:
Poor education is linked to poor health outcomes later in life so improving boys' education will also help men and boys live longer, happier healthier lives.

This International Men's Day we are asking people to explore why boys in richer countries are under performing girls and also less likely to be in education, and why tens of millions of boys in poorer countries are still not completing a primary education?

How can we address truancy and poor literacy rates which leave boys prone to adult unemployment, substance abuse, obesity, depression and poverty?

What action can we take to focus on boys' education in a way that closes the gap between girls and boys, addresses the gaps between rich boys and poor boys, and helps us to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of all men and boys.


TACKLING TOLERANCE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN AND BOYS:
Violence has a major impact on men's health all over the world. Every year over half a million people die from violence and 83% of them are men and boys.

A similar proportion of the global burden of disease (ill-health, disability or early death) from violence is borne by boys and men. Yet while there are now a number of deserved global campaigns to tackle violence against women and girls, there are no such campaigns to help men and boys. Why are we so tolerant of violence and abuse against boys and men and why do we still tolerate a world where we send boys and young men to fight wars on behalf of the adults in power?

This International Men's Day we are asking for actions we can take to help men and boys live in a less violent world and challenge our collective global tolerance of violence against men and boys.


PROMOTING FATHERS AND MALE ROLE MODELS:
Fathers and male role models play a vital role in helping boys make a healthy, happy and positive transition from boyhood to manhood.

How can we give boys a right to family life that gives them an equal opportunity to know and experience both their father and mother and ensure that their role as a future father is equal to girls' role as future mothers?

Giving boys a range of positive life choices in terms of family, work and leisure can help us reduce the number of boys whose choices are limited and end up poor, illiterate, unemployed, homeless, imprisoned and isolated.

This International Men's Day we are asking what actions we can take to give all boys access to a variety of male role models and ensure their country's laws and practices give them an equal right to fatherhood, with all the support they need to be the best fathers they can be.
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Recently I mentioned that we were going to be hosting a 'men's breakfast'. The first response was, "What about the women?"

Now, I don't wish to be mean (which usually means I'm going to be) but there are so many female-focussed goings on in the church setting and it is rather sad to see just how much (and how many)  equality and rights for those of a female persuasion is applauded and supported and yet blokes are left in the shadow. When I pointed this out to a small group of women, their response was, "Well, men have had everything for so long - it's about time!"

Equality is about everyone being equal - this seems to be a problem with so many of the 'rights' groups I encounter. What they generally mean is that they want more rights than the perceived opposing group and this results in the imbalance that we find in racial, gender, sexual and EVERY rights issue. So today we think about MEN and ways in which we can celebrate their roles in society and keep them living better and longer. About time gender issues were rebalanced isn't it? Father God, we pray for all men across this globe, That they would act justly, show mercy and live humbly And bring peace and unity to the places where they live. Encourage them, enlighten them, hearten them and bless them. We pray: For men who journey in hope; For older men as they look back on their life, For young men that they would become strong, healthy and wise; For men in desperate situations - strengthen and befriend them; For men in positions of authority - that they would lead with integrity; For Fathers - that they would care for their families well; For single men - that they would know the value of fidelity and love; For Jesus took up the challenge of living as a man on this earth, Teach all men to copy His life and live His love, Each and every day of our life. Amen

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